RSSToshiba Developing 45GB HD-DVD Disc
By Nate Mook | Published May 11, 2005, 12:01 PM
Despite reports in a Japanese newspaper stating that Toshiba and Sony may be close to deal that would standardize on Blu-ray for next-generation DVDs, Toshiba has announced the development of a higher capacity disc in its competing format, HD-DVD. The 45GB capacity would eliminate Blu-ray's size advantage.
Blu-ray offers a 50-gigabyte disc capacity and proponents boast that it is intended primarily for video purposes. Original HD-DVD discs had two layers of data: one in the old DVD format and a second that holds 15 gigabytes.
Supporters of HD-DVD note its backwards compatibility, but Blu-ray's immense capacity has garnered more interest in the marketplace.
The new HD-DVD format would support three separate layers of data on a disc, with each layer holding 15GB. Toshiba also announced a new dual-layer disc that holds 30GB on one side and 8.5GB in the original DVD format on the other.
The competing high-definition DVD formats has caused a rift in the movie industry. Movie studios Walt Disney and Twentieth Century Fox have pledged support for Blu-ray, while others including Warner Bros. will utilize HD-DVD. HD-DVD discs are expected to reach the market first.
Software companies such as Microsoft and Apple, meanwhile, will win no matter what DVD format comes out on top. Video codecs from both companies will be supported by both Blu-ray and HD-DVD, and Microsoft recently announced that Warner Bros. Studios will use its VC-1 codec for its HD-DVD movie titles.
Toshiba really don't get it. They are simply pouring more fuel on the format war.
Consumers will hold off buying anything until a standard has emerged.
This is bad news for everyone. The sooner 1 format is decided on, the soon companies can start manufacturing, safe in the knowledge that consumer will buy it..
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Are we talking about video formats, OR we talking about portable data-disk!?!? You're here => you have a PC (maybe MAC). Why you're talking about "DVD-players"?
They just use low-complexity codecs to compress video, because thease "players" can't decode highly compressed video (like MPEG AVC). That's why they do HD-DVD and Blu-Ray: to have more space to store badly-compressed video. That's bad.
They must make a more powerful player - then they (and you) will have better video on same medium. That's good.
It's a LOT MORE interesting, what i'll have to do with my DVD-drive to WRITE HD-DVD's (as i understand, "backward compatibility" means, what any DVD-reader can read HD-DVD, but writing was'nt mentioned)...
I don't think, Blu-Ray is good idea, because EVERYONE must buy new DVD-drive to read/write Blu-Ray DVDs. And in first year Blue ones will cost a lot of money i think ;)
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Why would you want backwards compatibility built in to the disc and not the player? Doing so only uses up half the capacity of the disc. If you're going to have backwards compatibility, you're supposed to have it integrated into the player, not the disc. Just like you can play CDs in a DVD player.
Even if the HD-DVD format worked out on a HD capacity point of view (with 3 layers on a double sided disc) what's the point of even having a single-layer of the old standard definition or SD-DVD? Most DVDs are dual-layer and allot come with 2 dual-layer discs. Having the same movie on HD-DVD would require 2 to 4 HD-DVD discs, not to mention the SD movie would possibly span two discs. So the single-layer SD-DVD on the HD-DVD disc is like taking a step backwards when we should be making a leap forwards.
I feel the HD-DVD's backwards compatibility feature is useless.
And don't get me started on double-sided discs.
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ditto... even though sony is over hyped... they're like the lexus of computers and home electronics. in this case they just happen to have a good point. blu-ray is clearly the smarter choice
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If backward compatability was only built into the players, then what do people do with their current dvd players? Guess everybody could go buy a new dvd player right? Hardly likely, and thats the reason for having backward compatability built right into the disks, so current dvd player owners could still enjoy the movie, yet enjoy the benefits of HD-DVD if
they were to buy one of the newer HD-DVD players.
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DVD was an intermediate technology and was always in limbo because it was higher resolution than Analog TV but lower resolution than Digital TV. Now with Blu-ray or HD-DVD, it adheres to HDTV standards and should be around for a long time without issues.
Not only will you need to upgrade your DVD player, but you’ll need to do the same to your TV as well, if you already haven’t done so.
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So does that mean that everyone in the world has to go buy a new DVD player if Blu-ray wins? The answers is yes. Toshiba is taking the smart route with making it backwards compatiable for those people who won't have enough money to go out and buy a new 400 dollar (estimate) blu-ray or HD-DVD player. But clearly, Blu-ray is better since you will have to go buy a new DVD player (sarcasm). Hell it will probably only work on Sony DVD players when it first comes out just so they can sell more units.
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If HD-DVD actually does come out with 45 gigs of space there is really no reason to use Blue-Ray at all.
I wonder how much Blue-Ray players will cost: $1,000? $2,000?
probably more if sony has anything to do with it.
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HELLO?! A HD-DVD only holds half as much as a regular DVD. So in most cases you’re not going to be able to fit a SD-DVD movie onto a HD-DVD disc! So HD-DVD is only hurting, not helping.
And if you don’t want to “rush out” and get a HD-DVD player, then don’t. Continue buying SD-DVD discs.
Furthermore, HD-DVD holds so little data, movies and special features are going to necessitate two discs like they do now with SD-DVD, making movies more expensive, now and in the long run.
You were probably complaining about DVD’s coming out when there were still perfectly good VHS tapes doing the job.
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No, a Blu-Ray player is going to cost about $100,000 dollars where a regular Red-Ray DVD player costs about $20.00 today.
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i dont care what it is...its going to be outdated in a few years anyway just live the vcr and dvd...
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Why upgrade from the 8-track and phonograph?
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lets not forget that the name "blu ray" just sounds plain silly.
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Blu-Ray all the way, love sony too, toshiba just want the attention
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